Pine Gap Protest
Introduction
The United States plans for Missile Defence (MD) have received much publicity in the past year or two. Ostensibly the plan is to build a missile shield to protect the United States from incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles by 2020. But the reality is far more sinister. Australia has a big role to play in these plans.
Why are we concerned?
Friends of the Earth (FoE) has a long history of working on anti-military issues nationally, including arms fairs, US military bases and campaigning against uranium mining, nuclear testing and dumping. Along with many national peace and environment groups, FoE is involved in organising towards the planned protests at Pine Gap in October 57, 2002. To help FoE build towards the national protests at the US military base, Pine Gap this October please call (03) 9419 8700 or make a tax deductible donation to Friends of the Earth (Action for Peace collective).
What is the Missile Defense Program?
The Missile Defence (MD) program being proposed by the US aims to intercept incoming inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) before they hit the US. Put simply, by tracking an incoming ICBM, the US will target their own ‘exo-atmospheric kill vehicles’ (aka missiles) to shoot it down. The missile will be blown up in earth’s outer atmosphere. To do this, the US needs to have tracking centres, Command Centres, and Ground Based Interceptor stations (where the ‘kill vehicles’ are launched). To ensure global coverage, most of these will need to be located off US soil. Australia’s Pine Gap satellite spy facilities are key to the MD proposal, acting as a command centre for the system providing early warning and tracking data. The agenda behind the agenda is that the US are actively working towards complete domination of space as a war fighting zone by 2020. By controlling surveillance in space, the US can effectively control the planet. The overall system is known as ‘Global Engagement’ Missile Defence is only one part of the bigger picture.The Missile Defence (MD) program being proposed by the US aims to intercept incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles. While the proposal to “hit a bullet with a bullet”is questionable in itself, MD also actively undermines international treaties and threatens to create a new global arms race. MD is not a question of US self defence but an offensive system which would allow the US to attack other nations and to dominate space. MD will weaken international security. Australia¹s participation in this offensive war fighting system makes it a potential target for nations wishing to undermine the US plans.
Where is Pine Gap?
The US military spy base Pine Gap is located less than 20 km outside Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory. It is on the land of the Arrente people. Pine Gap is a military facility that has been used to target US bombing on Iraq and is currently assisting in targeting bombs against Afghanistan. The Pine Gap facilities will be a Command Centre for the Missile Defence system.
Want to do something about all of this?
Join Friends of the Earth and other groups protesting against the role of Pine Gap in the US war fighting plans or show your support by making a donation.
New!
You can now download the Pine Gap bus registration form here.
Update, 5 August:
Pine Gap Protest
October 57 2002
Alice Springs, Northern Territory, AUSTRALIA
This October 5-7 there is a massive action happening up at Pine Gap by people from all over Australia who object to being a part of this US war fighting scheme and who say:
– we don’t want to take part in directing your weapons
– we don’t want to take part in giving you a leg up to dominate space
– and we don’t want to be a nuclear target because of your presence.
Pine Gap is a military spy base for the United States located in the middle of Australia. It has been here since the 1960s and has played a major role in many US military operations (including the Gulf War and the current “War on Terror”). It will be an integral part of the proposed US star wars system enabling the US to dominate and control space. Its very existence on Australian soil makes us complicit in the military strikes of America – such as those now proposed on Iraq once more) and makes us a nuclear target. We don’t want it. Help us expose it and shut it down this October.
Expose the Gap
Pine Gap: the low down for activists:
There are national actions planned for the US military base at Pine Gap just outside of Alice Springs. The dates of the protests are 5-7 October. There are groups organising from all over the country in small ways and big. Mass transport is being organised from most capital cities. Some groups are lining up trainers to assist people in getting to know what they are going to, how to form affinity groups, etc. Medical teams are being organised. Legal teams are being sought. Raging Grannies are tuning up their voice boxes. Students are working out their latest chants. People are looking in the back shed for their tents. Its a happening thing.
Below are some things you may want to check out:
– contacts for organisers in each state so far (there is so much room for so many more and convergence possibilities are endless!)
– e-group options already established which you may want to join or inquire more about.
– propaganda already produced (posters, pamphlets, info sheets etc) that you may want to get to read and distribute through your own networks.
– websites you may wish to visit to get more informed.
1. Contacts
Northern Territory:
Alice Springs c/-ALEC:
ph: (08) 8952 4686 or [email protected]: contact Emma King
there are activists working towards these actions in Darwin but they do not currently have the capacity to be contacted directly.
South Australia:
Australian Peace Committee – Adelaide (coordinating transport)
ph: (08) 8332 3461 or [email protected]: contact Irene Gale
or contact Dimity Hawkins (FoE): [email protected]
Victoria:
Action for Peace – Melbourne (a collective set up at FoE – coordinating buses and training for Melbourne)
through Friends of the Earth
(03) 9419 8700 or [email protected]: contact Pete Barker
New South Wales:
Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition – Sydney (coordinating buses in Sydney)
ph: (02) 9212 0800 or [email protected]: contact Hannah Middleton or Denis Doherty
Western Australia:
ANAWA (coordinating buses and training in Perth)
contact: Farida Iqbal: [email protected]
Northern NSW
ph: (02) 6685 8410
Queensland:
Brisbane
ph: (07) 3359 1933 or 0412 057 240
2. Established e-groups working on this now:
– OzPeace: this website (see below) has a subscriber section which allows you to get regular (but not flooding) emails about Pine Gap and other security issues. It will probably be the primary information dissemination tool organisers use to get the messages out to general public or interested people in the lead up, but is not as yet a major organising body. If you are keen to keep in touch but don’t want too many emails or to be focussed on organising just yet, this is the one to join!
– Defending Peace: this group was set up over a year ago to start working towards Pine Gap and on nuclear weapons and other security matters. It has been small with only peace and anti-nuke activists who are already working on the issues involved, but has since broadened slightly. If you are interested in working full on on the protest for October and want to be in touch with those who are doing that around the country, this is the one to approach about joining. Write to Dimity and explain why you want to be on the list.
3. Get the propaganda
– Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition (AABCC) in Sydney have produced a full colour pamphlet about Pine Gap – if you want copies to distribute write to them at: [email protected] and let them know how many and where to mail them to.
– Friends of the Earth (FOE) have a pamphlet called: “Star Wars 2020” which explains missile defence and advertises the protest action at Pine Gap. PDF – can download and print off – A4 double sided leaflet. Available on the FoE web site: http://www.foe.org.au/nc/nc_pine.htm
– Medical Association for Prevention of War (MAPW) have just released missile defence briefings and are hoping to provide a medical response team to the protests, as well as planning some actions etc. All information and html & PDF files of the factsheets are on the web site http://www.mapw.org.au/nationalmissiledefence/nmd-index.html
There are two collaborative (non-group specific) pamphlets available also:
· a leaflet designed for an International audience – explaining why Australian’s are protesting at Pine Gap, where it is , what is used for. Also a PDF suitable for web sites or printing off (also available on MAPW website)
· “21st Century Star Wars – Talking Points on National Missile Defence and Australia¹s role through Pine Gap the US Military base outside of Alice Springs” has great explanations about Missile Defence and Pine Gap from AABCC’s Dr Hannah Middleton and UK specialist David Webb. PDF document and designed as a 2 sided A4 so just print off, photocopy and get it out there.
4. Get informed
Check out these web sites for more info on Pine Gap, National Missile Defence and other peace issues:
– MAPW: http://www.mapw.org.au/nationalmissiledefence/nmd-index.html
– WANI (Women Against the Nuclear Industry) http://www.womenandearth.org/wani/wani.html
– AABCC: www.anti-bases.org
– OzPeace: www.ozpeace.net
– Aust. Peace Committee: www.peacecourier.com
– Global Network: www.space4peace.org (all about the international week to keep space for peace [4-11 October], happening at the same time as the Pine Gap actions all around the world!
More information:
– download part one of the “Star Wars 2020” briefing paper by Friends of the Earth (PDF)
– download part two of the “Star Wars 2020” briefing paper by Friends of the Earth (PDF)
– or see the FoE Melbourne website: http://melbourne.foe.org.au for details on the Action for Peace campaign.